Knoxville, TN 2026 Part 1: Travel Day Karaoke, Boujee Errands. Bagels.
May. 19th, 2026 19:54![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
taz_39 **Disclaimer** The views and opinions expressed in this post are my own, and do not reflect the views or opinions of my employer.
DO NOT RESHARE ANY PART OF THIS POST WITHOUT PERMISSION. Thank you.
This post covers Monday and Tuesday.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Previous Visit to Knoxville:
The circus never came to Knoxville, so my first experience with this city was with Tootsie at the very start of 2023.
Tootsie Travel Day: The touring company had booked me a flight out of Orlando essentially ON New Year's Day, PLUS it was a late flight, PLUS they'd scheduled an 11:30am brush-up rehearsal for the following day. Listening to the little voice in my head, I took the buyout and booked my own flight a day early, and paid for an extra night in the company hotel out of pocket. It turned out that nearly all flights were delayed or cancelled that day, probably due to winter storms. Our bass player was also from Orlando and was booked on the exact same travel schedule as me. Through him I got to see how my travel day WOULD have gone: he was stuck in Atlanta all day as our flight got delayed several times and then cancelled, and ended up having to rent a car and drive through the night to try and make it to rehearsal on Tuesday. He did not make it in time for rehearsal. That could have been me too. And this is why I ALWAYS try to listen to the little voice inside my head instead of blindly going with whatever is handed to me. I don't care if people think I'm stupid or weird. Easier is not a synonym for better.
Tootsie (part 1 and part 2):
Ate at Good Golly Tamale, Olibea (sadly no longer exists), Cruze Farms (ice cream), and Potchke (mod-Jewish deli)
Visited Mast General Store, Three Rivers Market, the Sunsphere, historic Old Gray Cemetery, and the Knoxville Art Museum (free!)
--- --- --- --- --- ---
MONDAY
A 4am wake-up for a 5am Uber to the airport. When the Uber pulled up it was glowing from the inside and I shortly discovered why.
Dude had decked out the inside of his car with disco lights, LED phone charging cables that glowed and pulsed in time to the KARAOKE, yes that’s right he had a karaoke rig complete with microphone. When I laughingly declined to sing (I’m not a good singer even when it’s NOT 5am!!) he shrugged and took the mic himself, and sang me a song! He did King of the Road by Roger Miller, if you’re curious.
It was so funny and surreal. I wondered if I was still asleep and dreaming!
Airport was normal, flight 1 was normal and on time. I had a long layover in Detroit and spent the time reading, coughing goop out of my lungs, and wandering looking at everything.
I came across one of these short story dispensers and needed to try it!
I’ve seen these before but haven't had time to try one. I got two nice stories, one a YA short about a kid who goes on a field trip back in time and learns something about her own bravery, the other an adult story about a woman trying to find herself on a hiking trip. They’re just10-minute reads, but nice little thought-provokers. They’re printed on really nice paper so I was loathe to throw them out; I’ll keep one as a souvenir and leave the other somewhere public where someone else can hopefully read it.
I ran into Michael (Key 3) and Malashia (Assist Stage Mgmt) who were also taking this flight. We had all booked it because none of us trusted the company booking, which was much later and had a very short layover. The second flight was also on time, AND I was given two packets of Biscoff :) :)
Turns out our mistrust in the company booking was well-placed. Their layover was so tight that they missed their connection, and their rebooked flight did not arrive in Knoxville until 10pm!! Majority of the cast spent the entire day at the airport today. Meanwhile those of us who took the buyout got to check into the hotel, get groceries, and settle in. How oddly similar to my last visit to Knoxville (see top of this post.) Once again it all proves that easier doesn't mean better.
I got to the hotel around 3pm, had a snack and threw a thermometer into the fridge, and Ubered to an AT&T store to upgrade to a new iPhone. It took a lot longer than expected because Apple now has a convoluted security feature where if you can't remember your actual, typed-out password (as opposed to face recognition or pin) you must activate an anti-theft protocol that prevents you from making changes to your phone for one hour. Like most people I rely on face recognition or a pin for all of my Apple devices, so of course I didn't remember my written password and had to wait the hour. But luckily the new phone needed a large update plus I had to eat lunch, and both of those killed the hour nicely. About 90 minutes later I had my new phone and a new case for it. Yay!
Next, an Uber to Whole Paycheck for groceries. My favorite protein bar, Mezcla, is testing new flavors in this market and I was lucky to find them here!! Salted Caramel, Mint Chocolate, and Chocolate Pretzel.
Back to the hotel to unpack, during which I remembered that I had packages at the front desk. My KN95 masks were there but the special card I'd ordered for my sister's 40th birthday was mysteriously missing :( The hotel said it may have been misdelivered and suggested that I ask at surrounding businesses...which I did for a solid hour, wandering around and awkwardly asking if they'd gotten it by accident. No one had it. There is a USPS just a few blocks away so I will see if they can help me find where it was delivered.
Having been up since 4am, I was finally exhausted and went to bed around 11pm.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
TUESDAY (Golden Day)
I woke up VERY late for me, at 9am (which is 8am in the time zone we just came from so actually I guess that's pretty reasonable.)
Would have liked to do fun stuff on this full day off but instead ended up doing many small errands:
I want to note that the appeal of getting a newer Apple Watch is the health features. They are astounding. The newest model can take your temperature, track blood oxygen levels, identify hypertension or sleep apnea, and believe it or not even do an EKG. As someone without health insurance, anything that I can afford that can stand between me and a $$$,$$$ hospital bill, or help doctors to figure out what's going on if I DO end up in a hospital, is worth it. Hence, new watch. And trading in the old one paid for the new watch band, too.
The updating of the watch and subsequent pairing took a very long time so I typed up this post and ate dinner while I waited. When it was done I set up all the neat-o health features. And then I got into bed with a cup of tea and binged anime for the rest of the night.
Have I ever mentioned how glad I am to have never had children!
------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday: Opening day in Knoxville. Might try to send off Kayle's gift and card in the morning.
Thursday: Two-show weekday so no plans.
DO NOT RESHARE ANY PART OF THIS POST WITHOUT PERMISSION. Thank you.
This post covers Monday and Tuesday.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Previous Visit to Knoxville:
The circus never came to Knoxville, so my first experience with this city was with Tootsie at the very start of 2023.
Tootsie Travel Day: The touring company had booked me a flight out of Orlando essentially ON New Year's Day, PLUS it was a late flight, PLUS they'd scheduled an 11:30am brush-up rehearsal for the following day. Listening to the little voice in my head, I took the buyout and booked my own flight a day early, and paid for an extra night in the company hotel out of pocket. It turned out that nearly all flights were delayed or cancelled that day, probably due to winter storms. Our bass player was also from Orlando and was booked on the exact same travel schedule as me. Through him I got to see how my travel day WOULD have gone: he was stuck in Atlanta all day as our flight got delayed several times and then cancelled, and ended up having to rent a car and drive through the night to try and make it to rehearsal on Tuesday. He did not make it in time for rehearsal. That could have been me too. And this is why I ALWAYS try to listen to the little voice inside my head instead of blindly going with whatever is handed to me. I don't care if people think I'm stupid or weird. Easier is not a synonym for better.
Tootsie (part 1 and part 2):
Ate at Good Golly Tamale, Olibea (sadly no longer exists), Cruze Farms (ice cream), and Potchke (mod-Jewish deli)
Visited Mast General Store, Three Rivers Market, the Sunsphere, historic Old Gray Cemetery, and the Knoxville Art Museum (free!)
--- --- --- --- --- ---
MONDAY
A 4am wake-up for a 5am Uber to the airport. When the Uber pulled up it was glowing from the inside and I shortly discovered why.
Dude had decked out the inside of his car with disco lights, LED phone charging cables that glowed and pulsed in time to the KARAOKE, yes that’s right he had a karaoke rig complete with microphone. When I laughingly declined to sing (I’m not a good singer even when it’s NOT 5am!!) he shrugged and took the mic himself, and sang me a song! He did King of the Road by Roger Miller, if you’re curious.
It was so funny and surreal. I wondered if I was still asleep and dreaming!
Airport was normal, flight 1 was normal and on time. I had a long layover in Detroit and spent the time reading, coughing goop out of my lungs, and wandering looking at everything.
I came across one of these short story dispensers and needed to try it!
I’ve seen these before but haven't had time to try one. I got two nice stories, one a YA short about a kid who goes on a field trip back in time and learns something about her own bravery, the other an adult story about a woman trying to find herself on a hiking trip. They’re just10-minute reads, but nice little thought-provokers. They’re printed on really nice paper so I was loathe to throw them out; I’ll keep one as a souvenir and leave the other somewhere public where someone else can hopefully read it.
I ran into Michael (Key 3) and Malashia (Assist Stage Mgmt) who were also taking this flight. We had all booked it because none of us trusted the company booking, which was much later and had a very short layover. The second flight was also on time, AND I was given two packets of Biscoff :) :)
Turns out our mistrust in the company booking was well-placed. Their layover was so tight that they missed their connection, and their rebooked flight did not arrive in Knoxville until 10pm!! Majority of the cast spent the entire day at the airport today. Meanwhile those of us who took the buyout got to check into the hotel, get groceries, and settle in. How oddly similar to my last visit to Knoxville (see top of this post.) Once again it all proves that easier doesn't mean better.
I got to the hotel around 3pm, had a snack and threw a thermometer into the fridge, and Ubered to an AT&T store to upgrade to a new iPhone. It took a lot longer than expected because Apple now has a convoluted security feature where if you can't remember your actual, typed-out password (as opposed to face recognition or pin) you must activate an anti-theft protocol that prevents you from making changes to your phone for one hour. Like most people I rely on face recognition or a pin for all of my Apple devices, so of course I didn't remember my written password and had to wait the hour. But luckily the new phone needed a large update plus I had to eat lunch, and both of those killed the hour nicely. About 90 minutes later I had my new phone and a new case for it. Yay!
Next, an Uber to Whole Paycheck for groceries. My favorite protein bar, Mezcla, is testing new flavors in this market and I was lucky to find them here!! Salted Caramel, Mint Chocolate, and Chocolate Pretzel.
Back to the hotel to unpack, during which I remembered that I had packages at the front desk. My KN95 masks were there but the special card I'd ordered for my sister's 40th birthday was mysteriously missing :( The hotel said it may have been misdelivered and suggested that I ask at surrounding businesses...which I did for a solid hour, wandering around and awkwardly asking if they'd gotten it by accident. No one had it. There is a USPS just a few blocks away so I will see if they can help me find where it was delivered.
Having been up since 4am, I was finally exhausted and went to bed around 11pm.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
TUESDAY (Golden Day)
I woke up VERY late for me, at 9am (which is 8am in the time zone we just came from so actually I guess that's pretty reasonable.)
Would have liked to do fun stuff on this full day off but instead ended up doing many small errands:
- Typing up this post
- Activating the warranty for the new phone case (it has lifetime replacements!)
- Starting the return process for my scratched in-ear faceplates
- Picking up bagels from a local shop called K Brew (French toast, Blueberry, and Hot Honey!)
- Visiting USPS to see if they could help find my sister's card. They promised to call tomorrow morning.
- Ubering to the mall for a new Apple Watch!
- Trying to find black dress pants at the mall (failed)
- 1-mile walk to Target for coffee and cheap underwear
I want to note that the appeal of getting a newer Apple Watch is the health features. They are astounding. The newest model can take your temperature, track blood oxygen levels, identify hypertension or sleep apnea, and believe it or not even do an EKG. As someone without health insurance, anything that I can afford that can stand between me and a $$$,$$$ hospital bill, or help doctors to figure out what's going on if I DO end up in a hospital, is worth it. Hence, new watch. And trading in the old one paid for the new watch band, too.
The updating of the watch and subsequent pairing took a very long time so I typed up this post and ate dinner while I waited. When it was done I set up all the neat-o health features. And then I got into bed with a cup of tea and binged anime for the rest of the night.
Have I ever mentioned how glad I am to have never had children!
------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday: Opening day in Knoxville. Might try to send off Kayle's gift and card in the morning.
Thursday: Two-show weekday so no plans.
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